WILMINGTON, a post-town of New Castle county, Delaware, is situate on a point just above the junction of Brandywine and Christiana creeks, about 28 miles S.1V. from Philadelphia, and by post road 108 N.E. from Washington City. Lat. 44' 15" N., Long. 32'45" \V.
The site of the town is of considerable acclivity, being on the dividing ridge between the waters of those streams; the summit is 109 feet above tide water, from which there is a fine prospect of the surrounding country and of the river Delaware, about three miles distant; it is much the largest town of the state in which it is situate, and, except Philadelphia, the most extensive in the basin of the Delaware. The streets cross each other at right angles; the side walks are generally paved with brick, and the carriage ways of some or the principal streets with stone. The buildings are generally good, and sonic of them very neat and capacious.
Wilmington was for many years past a borough town; but has the present year (1832) received a city charter. Its limits embrace an area of one mile from N. to S. and one and a-half from E. to W. It is under the government of a mayor, an alderman, and city council, composed of 12 mem bers, four of whom are elected annually by the citizens, to serve for three years; this body has power to enact the necessary laws for the govern ment of the city. They also elect the mayor and alderman, the former for a term of three years, and the latter for five years.
There are also two courts for the trial of city causes; the mayor's court possessing criminal, and the city court civil jurisdiction. The mayor and alderman and president of the council, preside in each of these courts.
Wilmington, though a port of entry, has not an extensive commerce with foreign countries; but is the centre of a large manufacturing district; it has three banking establishments, viz.
Capital.
The Bank of Delaware, S110.000 Bank of Wilmington and Brandywine, 130,000 Branch of Farmer's Bank of Delaware, 200,000 The Bank of Delaware was the first established in the state, and is one of the oldest in the United States, its charter having been granted in 1796; its business has been extensive and ably conduct ed, and few banking institutions in the country have proved as profitable an investment for their stockholders. It has within a few years erected a very neat and commodious banking house, attach ed to which is a dwelling for the cashier. There
are also two fire insurance companies, with an ag gregate capital of $250,000.
There are 13 houses for public worship; viz. three Episcopalians, two Friends, three Presbyte rian, one Baptist, one Roman Catholic, and three Methodists, two of which latter belong to coloured congregations.
The public buildings are, a United States arse nal, the city hall, a college, a poor house, and two market houses, at which a market is held twice in each week alternately; they are well supplied with meats, fruit and vegetables. The poor house is erected on a healthy and elevated situation, a short distance west of the town, and is well adapted to the purposes intended. There is also a public li brary and academy of natural sciences, in which is deposited a fine collection of minerals.
Among the private literary establishments in this city, there are five boarding-schools, which are generally under the superintendence of com petent instructors, and afford ample facilities for obtaining a liberal education; two of these institu tions are for young ladies; they have been esta blished for several years, and are eminently de serving of the patronage they have received.
In the vicinity of Wilmington are the falls of the Brandywine, which afford a very extensive wa ter power, from which the city derives an incalcu lable advantage by an adequate supply of pure and wholesome water.
In 1826 the borough council purchased a large mill on the Brandywine, and constructed ma chinery by which the water of this stream is forced, a distance of 2120 feet, to two handsome and extensive reservoirs, situate at the summit of the town; from these reservoirs a copious supply of water is distributed to every part of the town by means of iron pipes of various dimensions; the extent of pipes now laid is about five miles. The whole machinery for this work is of perfect con struction, and reflects great credit on the skill of the engineer. The cost of the works and proper ty was about 565,000. The mill is occupied as a cotton factory, and the reservoirs are supplied with water at regular periods by the occupant.
The valuable water power of the Brandywine has also been rendered available to a great extent, by the erection of mills and machinery for the manufacture of cotton and woollen goods, flour, paper, snuff, gun-powder, iron, and various other articles.
Population of Wilmington in 1820, 5268, in 1830. 6663. ED.